Cardston Junior High

School
Box 130 (430 - 5 Ave. E.)
Cardston, AB T0K 0K0
Phone: (403) 653-4958 Fax: (403) 653-3653
Principal: Austin Nunn, M.Ed.
Vice Principal:

Cody Toone, M.Ed.

School Website: http://www.cardstonjunior.ca

April21,2016

RE:ReferenceforJillianPoulin

ToWhomItMayConcern:
IamveryhappytorelaytoyoumyrecommendationforJillianPoulinassheconcludesher
ProfessionalSeminarTwo(PSII)withCardstonJuniorHigh.DuringtheweeksofMarch7,2016to
April22,2016IhadthepleasureofservingasJilliansTeacherAssociate.Throughnumerous
observationsandconversations,IcanhighlyrecommendJillianasaskilledandhardworkingnew
educator.
ThePSIIexperienceisanewteachersfirstexposuretomanyofthechallengesoffulltimeworkasan
educator.ThroughmypositionasVicePrincipal,Ifrequentlyengageintheworkofinstructional
coachingandcanconfidentlyrecommendJillian.Ourtimetogetherwasapleasantexchangeofideas
anddialogue.Sheisreceptivetocoachingandhasagenuinesenseofcuriositythatmakeshereager
andwillingtoacceptfeedback.
Duringourtimetogether,JillianandIworkedconsistentlyonherleadershipintheclassroom.Asshe
tooktheovertheroleofteacherinmySocialStudiesgrade8class,Jillianworkedthroughthe
complexdevelopmentofauthorityintheclassroomthroughcompassion,empathy,andgenuine
interestinherstudents.EachofthesecharacteristicsarepartofJilliansnaturalpersonalityandshe
hasworkedhardtoincorporatetheiruseinherinteractionswithherstudents.Likemanynewteachers,
Jillianhadtoovercometheseductivepullofusingtheeasieruseofpowerthatisinherentinher
positiontoleadthelearninginherclass.AssheandInavigatedthiswork,Iwasimpressedbyher
dedicationtoimprovedpracticeandwillingnesstodemonstrateanappropriatesenseofvulnerability
andopennessthatinvitedstudentsintoamorewelcominglearningenvironment.Additionally,through
herhardworkinthisarea,shewasalsoinvitedintothetrustofherstudentsandwasabletodevelop
sincererelationshipswiththemdespitehershortstaywithus.
Jillianiswellorganizedandskilledatplanningandcarryingoutengaginglessons.Sheisprofessional
inherinteractionswithherpeersandwaswarmlyacceptedbythestaffofCardstonJuniorHigh.
Additionally,JillianeagerlyjumpedintoherdutiesasamemberofourdivisionalProfessional
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LearningCommunity.Shewaseagertoseektheadviceofothereducatorsandquitecapableof
contributingtothecollaborationprocess.
CardstonJuniorHighSchoolservesstudentsfromtheBloodReserve,andJilliansbackgroundinFirst
NationEducationwasparticularlyusefulassheinteractedwithmanyoftheFirstNationstudentsin
ourschool.ShewasquitecapableatconnectingthecontentofEdoJapanwiththemorelocalcontext
ofFirstNationspeopleinCanadaandAlberta.Thisblendingofcurriculumandlocalcontextisan
importantskillandonethatwillserveJillianwellasshemovesforwardinhercareer.
Jillianiscognizantoftheroleformativeandsummativeassessmentplayinawellplannedand
deliveredlesson.Duringhertimewithussheutilizedavarietyofassessmentmethodstohelpstudents
movetomasteryofthelearningoutcomes.Sheisthoughtfulinherfeedbackandhelpedstudentsmove
forwardthroughcarefulattentiontotheindividualneedsofallherstudents.
ItismyopinionthatJillianisbeginningafruitfulandexcitingcareerasaneducator.Shewillbea
wonderfulassettoyourorganizationandwillworkhardtohelpstudentslearninrigorousand
engagingways.Ifyouhaveanyfurtherquestions,pleasedonthesitatetocontactme.
Sincerely,

CodyToone,M.Ed.
VicePrincipal
CardstonJuniorHighSchool
School:4036534958
Cell:4037151486
Email:cody.toone@westwind.ab.ca